We all have them — the “go to” sites we read while enjoying that first cup or coffee or tea.  But what do your favorite sites say about you as an entrepreneur?

Check out this quickie insider look and let me know if any of these types of “Internet surfers” describes you…

1.  You Jump on Social Networking Sites First!

You value relationships and don’t want to lose connections with others, whether in a personal or professional sense. 

Strengths:  You’re great at communications and staying on top of the “social scene”.

Challenges:  You may tend to get emotionally caught up in everyone else’s drama.  And that can lead to poor business decisions.

2.  You Look at Popular Local, National and World News Sites Pronto!

You’re the type who could probably name the people in charge of even the most obscure countries.  (After all, there ARE no obscure countries to you!)  You’re up to speed on the news and often “break it” to friends and colleagues.

Strengths:  You have a terrific perspective on society and the politics of the day.  This gives you some “insider” knowledge that sets you apart from competitors.

Challenges:  You may struggle as an entrepreneur to make real connections with people who don’t share your love of all things news.  It’s as if you don’t speak the same language.

3.  You Check Out More Hollywood/Gossip Sites Than Anyone Could Shake a Stick At!

Before you justify your actions, know that there isn’t anything intrinsically wrong with seeing what Perez Hilton has written before getting to work.  It’s just your style.

Strengths:  You probably have the ability to join any conversation, especially the day after American Idol is picked or something particularly shocking happened on CSI!  That makes you the “go to” person for the trendy gossip of the day.

Challenges:  While you know exactly how many kids Angelina Jolie has, you might not be as up to speed on the ins and outs of your business.  You have to train yourself to become interested in the non-dramatic, too!

4.  You Head Right for Information on Your Field!

You are the type who has immersed him- or herself in one chosen industry, and you’ll be doggoned if anyone knows it better than you!  That’s why you seek out as much info daily as you can… including on the competition!

Strengths:  You are seen as a leader in your field because you know so much.  This helps you make connections and win opportunities to speak at events or “guest write/blog” pieces.

Challenges:  You’re so absorbed by your own industry that you tend to think only on those terms.  Thus, brainstorming could be particularly difficult for you because you think only of what’s already been done, not what COULD be done.

5.  You Have No Set Surfing Habits — You Let Your Mood Dictate Your Clicking!

You’re a true “free spirit”, roaming the Internet at will!  You’ll just as likely visit StyleList as you will ParentDish or the Wall Street Journal! 

Strengths:  You have a wide variety of interests and are able to synthesize information quickly.  You take from a range of knowledge bases.

Challenges:  It may be tough for you to focus on your career for any length of time because you tend to get so bored!  You have to learn how to keep everything feeling new!

So… which are you???

“I’m stuck in a rut.”

Have you ever said that?  I’m going to guess that you have… and probably more than once!  It’s not uncommon to feel like you’re spinning your wheels, so to speak.  But that doesn’t mean you have to wait for “fate” to intervene.

It’s time to make your own good fortune and get out of that rut!  Sure, it might be easier said than done, but that doesn’t mean it shouldn’t be done… it just means you’re going to have to work a little.

What are some fast, efficient ways to leap forward?  Try these on for size:

1. Hire me!  Yes, this is a bold-faced call for you to get in touch with me.  But I really believe in what I do!  I’ll make you evaluate where you’ve been, where you are presently and where you want to go in life… and I’ll help you design the perfect map to get there!
2. Brainstorm. Get together with like-minded colleagues or friends and brainstorm the heck out of your rut.  Nothing should be off-limits.  Really let the ideas fly (and write them down or record the session.)  Chances are strong that you’ll come up with something terrific and innovative to get you moving forward again.
3. Educate Yourself.  Nothing helps you get out of your daily “ruts” than a little old-fashioned continuing education.  Lucky for you that there are opportunities everywhere, both online and off!  So sign up for a boot camp, join a class or even start on a path to a new degree.

No one needs to stay in a rut forever!  So say sayonara to yours right now!

Did you know that organizations are always looking for public speakers? Basically, they need to offer their patrons, vendors, colleagues, clients, etc., some kind of informative experiences.So why aren’t you talking?

The fact of the matter is that many people have an incredible fear of public speaking. (At last report, some folks were saying that they’d rather DIE than speak in front of a group! Unbelievable!)

Even if you have to take a public speaking course or - better yet - connect with a public speaking coach, I urge you to get yourself out there and start telling people what you know.  Share your thoughts and begin to build your base of individuals who know who you are and what you do. 

Your first few talks don’t have to be long and they don’t have to be to a sold-out crowd at an Olympics-sized stadium. They don’t even have to be on some revolutionary new idea. They just have to be on a topic you know well… and I’m guessing that would be some area of your business.

If you’re already part of an association or a chamber, reach out to the people who plan educational events and let them know you’re available. It could be one of the best ways to grow your publicity… but you’ll never know until you open your mouth!

Like it or not, “that time of year” has come… again. Fortunately, if you’re planning to thank customers, co-workers and others this year, you have time to snag some great deals online.

Why do I care so much about this? Quite frankly, it’s because saving money makes sense. If you wait until the last minute, you’ll incur extra expenses and your gifts will be less-than-likely to be meaningful or have the impact you desire. Consider this part of your 2009 marketing budget and choose a little something to remind people that you’re ready to do business in 2010.

Do you use Facebook or other similar social networking sites? 

If not, I highly recommend that you get on them, if only to familiarize yourself with the way they work.  Even if you personally cannot stand to reveal information about you and your family, you owe it to your business to know why Facebook is so doggone hot.

There’s a lot to learn from Facebook, especially for entrepreneurs looking to break out of their shells and do something exciting, interesting and different.  For instance, consider the following attributes that Facebook possesses and how you can use them to increase your profit margins and visibility…

Connectivity - Humans have a desire to connect with each other.  Facebook allows that in real time, operating as a virtual “kitchen table”.  It’s a place where people can kvetch, share and celebrate.

→ How “Connectivity” can help your business: 

Give your customers opportunities to connect with you and your colleagues on a regular business.  Don’t hide from clients or shirk from responsibilities!  The faster you respond to their queries, the more reliable you’ll appear.

Fun - Let’s be honest here — a lot of folks love Facebook because it’s kind of fun.  You can take a wacky quiz, post a kooky photo from 1982, tell a great story… the list of possibilities goes on.  People like knowing that Facebook isn’t some stodgy land of virtual suits and ties; it’s a place where you can take your shoes off and lounge on the couch in your comfy jeans and sweats!

→ How “Fun” can help your business: 

Be honest.  Are you fun to work with?  You don’t have to come to work in a clown suit nor should you take your commitments lightly, but you should have a sense of humor about life, business and everything in between.  If you’re dull as a piece of bark, your clients may be reluctant to call on you.  (Caveat: “Fun” doesn’t mean getting blotto with clients.  That’s a big no-no.)

Technology - Facebook is a land built from the latest technology.  It also makes the Internet seem less intimidating to those who didn’t grow up with laptops and text messaging.  Consequently, it really levels the playing field and allows techno-savviness to spread.

→ How “Technology” can help your business: 

Not that this is any surprise, but if you’re not technologically in-the-know, you need to become so.  If you don’t have a website, get one.  If you don’t understand how to text someone, find out asap.  Embrace technology and those who are using it will be more likely to see you as a professional with whom they want to work.

Truly, there’s tons to be gained from Facebook… what did I forget?

• JADCC:  The bridge between where you are and where you want to be.
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There’s a great deal of downsizing happening due to the current economic climate.  That’s true.  But if you’ve spent months (or years) assembling a team of crackerjack people with awesome skill sets, the last thing you want to do is let even one of them go.

Before you resign yourself to losing one (or all) of the wonderful colleagues you’ve spent hours training and whose duties would be difficult to take on yourself (or farm out to others), I encourage you to take a ready, aim approach… and you might not have to fire at all.

Ready: 

Get your team ready for what’s going on in your mind BEFORE you make any final decisions.  Gather them together for a few hours, be open about your concerns and see what your team members say.  You may be surprised when they come up with some clever options for saving money.  (Remember — if you’re as good of an employer as they are employees, they don’t want to leave you any more than you want them to leave!) 

Maybe John is willing to take on some sales responsibilities even though he’s your “techie”; perhaps Joan would like to reduce her summer hours anyway to be with her kids but was worried you’d take it the wrong way.  You never know until you ask.

Aim: 

Take all the team’s suggestions to heart.  Aim to improve the direction in which you’re all going.  Maybe you’ve been focusing too hard in the wrong places; try a different approach and see if it nets you any results. 

By putting part of the onus on your team members, you’ll empower them to shape the company and navigate the sometimes-unpredictable waters of 21st century business. 

If you work together, you’ll be able to weather any storm.  In fact, you’ll most likely come out stronger than you were previously.  And even though you readied yourselves and aimed, there’s a great chance you won’t have to “fire”.

• JADCC: The bridge between where you are and where you want to be.
• Join JADCC on Twitter.